What to Bring to an Alterations Fitting, and Why You Book It

Alterations are really a conversation between you, your clothes and the person holding the pins. The better the information you bring, the closer the result gets to what you pictured. Most fittings that go wrong go wrong for a simple reason: something was missing from the room. It might be the shoes, the right underlayer, or a clear idea of the date. Here's a short checklist so yours goes smoothly.

Why fittings are by appointment

A proper fitting can't be rushed. The garment has to be put on, looked at from the front, side and back, pinned, adjusted, taken off, and often tried again. Marking a hem or taking in a waist takes careful looking, and that goes better when nobody is watching the clock or the door. When a seamstress works by appointment, there is time set aside for your questions and for trying the garment more than once.

ALL-SEW works by appointment, Monday to Saturday, 9:00am to 9:00pm. Those long hours leave room to book around a job or school, and the appointment gives you a time that is set aside for you.

What to bring

Start with the garment itself. Bring it clean and pressed if you can, since wrinkles hide how it really hangs. If it's a set, such as a suit, a bridesmaid dress with a jacket, or a dress and its sash, bring every piece.

Then bring the shoes. Hem length depends on shoe height, and a dress hemmed for flats will drag when you put on heels. Bring the exact pair you plan to wear on the day, or the nearest thing to it.

Bring or wear the right undergarments. Fit changes depending on what's underneath, whether that's shapewear, a strapless bra, or just a different style of slip. A fitted dress altered over the wrong layers can feel loose or tight on the day. If you're not sure, wear what you intend to have on at the event.

Bring the accessories that change the line of the outfit. A belt, a wrap, a necklace that sits near the neckline, or a jacket worn over the top can all affect where a seam or a hem should fall. For trousers, bring the belt you'll wear.

Tell the story, not just the fix

It's tempting to say take it in an inch and leave it at that. A better approach is to say what bothers you. Maybe the shoulders slide off, or the sleeves cover your hands, or you can't sit down comfortably. Describing the problem lets the person doing the work choose the best fix, which isn't always the one you'd guess. A tight sleeve might need the armhole adjusted rather than the sleeve itself.

• What you'll wear with it: shoes, underlayers and accessories.
• Where you'll wear it and what you'll be doing: a wedding, an office day, a long drive, a lot of sitting.
• What you like about the fit already, so it doesn't get changed.
• Anything you don't want touched, such as original buttons or a favorite detail.

Give a real deadline

Say the date you need the garment back, and say how firm it is. A wedding on Saturday is a firm date. A jacket you'd like back sometime this month is flexible. Knowing the difference helps the work get planned in the right order.

ALL-SEW offers emergency service and 24-hour turnaround when time is short, and pickup and delivery are available. If you're up against a date, say so on the first call rather than at the fitting.

Men, women and children

ALL-SEW works on men's, women's and children's clothing, and there are small differences in how to prepare. For men's suits and trousers, bring the dress shoes and the belt, and wear a shirt like the one you'll wear with the jacket. For children, bring the child. Children grow and move, and a garment fitted to a squirming kid needs the child there. Ask about leaving a little extra in a hem or seam if you'd like the garment to last another season or two.

For everyone, try the garment on at home first and note what you notice. A minute in front of your own mirror gives you a list of questions before you even arrive.

ALL-SEW in Nampa has been serving the Treasure Valley for over 20 years. To book a fitting, call 208-863-2064. It's by appointment, and please call rather than text.